Paul McCartney Tells Us About His Most Famous Songs

Music icon and GQ cover star Paul McCartney has been writing songs for more than sixty years now, and even the world's biggest Beatles fan probably doesn't know everything about every single one of them. He sat down with GQ to discuss some of his best, most famous, and most significant works, from the bizarre, swirling interlude in "A Day in the Life," to the surprisingly controversial history behind the title of "Hey Jude." Here are a few of our favorite anecdotes.

"Yesterday"

McCartney woe up one day with the Melody of Yesterday in place, but no lyrics. As a placeholder, it was originally titled "Scrambled Eggs." This just goes to show the importance of good editing.

"A Day in the Life"

He fondly remembers coming up with that demonic orchestral interlude in an otherwise perfectly pleasant song. The orchestra wasn't fully on board, but safe to say it paid off.

"Hey Jude"

Why's this song called "Hey Jude"? Paul McCartney just likes the name Jude, that's why. McCartney found himself in a bit of hot water post-release, with some drawing parallels between the storefront marketing materials and Nazi propaganda, which is less than ideal when you're trying to sell a nice song about not being sad.

"Helter Skelter"

Jealous of Pete Townsend's The Who claiming to have made the "heaviest, dirtiest song ever," McCartney enlisted his band mates to make one even dirtier. "Helter Skelter" was the result.

"Hi Hi Hi"

Not my favorite Beatles song, but I'm glad it exists if only because it made Paul McCartney say the words "hey girl" in an internet video in 2018.